New Delhi,30 Apr (Lok Sabha):The Union Government has not received any proposal regarding allotment of forest land specifically to tribal people. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 has come into force on 31st December, 2007. The responsibility for recognition and vesting of forest rights over forest land under occupation of the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers rests with the State/U.T. Governments.
The State/U.T. Governments are still in the process of implementing the provisions of the Act. So far no information from the State/U.T. Governments has been received regarding the vesting of the rights of tribal and other traditional forest dwellers.This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Sh S. Regupathy in a written reply to a question by S/Shri Mansukhbhai D. Vasava, Dr. K. Dhanaraju and Dr. Dhirendra Agarwal in the Lok Sabha today.